Combination dusting brush



y 9, 1956 M. D. sum. 2,747,217

COMBINATION DUSTING BRUSH Filed on. 51, 1952 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. Maurice D. 8/0/2/ ATTORNEY.

May 29, 1956 M. D. STAHL 2,747,217

COMBINATION DUSTING BRUSH Filed on. 31, 1952 2 shets-sheet 2 INVENTOH. Maurice D. .Sfah/ ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 2,747,217 COMBINATION DUSTING BRUSH Application October 31, 1952, Serial No. 318,029 6 Claims. (Cl. 15-474) The present invention relates to a dusting tool for use with suction cleaners and more particularly to a novel brush which can be readily and simply converted from a gentle action to a furniture cleaning tool capable of vigorous cleaning action.

Heretofore it has been customary to provide separate cleaning tools to meet the needs for different cleaning requirements and to interchange one for another as the different cleaning operations are encountered. In dusting the usual living quarters the operator has need primarily for a soft brushing tool which will not scratch or injure the fine fabrics of curtains, draperies, and the like. However, there is frequent need for a brush which under a little pressure from the operator, will provide vigorous cleaning action to meet the needs in cleaning deep pile furniture fabrics and in removing soiled spots from upholstery. It is most inconvenient and irksome to exchange tools as these varying needs are encountered.

The present invention provides a very simple and inexpensive combination tool which is easily manipulated by the operator to change instantaneously from gentle to vigorous cleaning action. Moreover, the change from one to the other type of cleaning is accomplished without resort to the use of buttons, levers or other moving parts but merely by the application of slight pressure over and above that normally applied for routine dusting operations.

The foregoing characteristics are obtained by providing a dusting tool having a set of flexible bristles for normal cleaning and dusting purposes and an adjacent set of rather stiff bristles terminating in a plane slightly above the ends of the flexible bristles for vigorous cleaning. With bristles arranged in this manner the operator can change from gentle to vigorous cleaning merely by applying more or less pressure to the tool. When light pressure is applied only the flexible bristles contact the cleaning surface. For more difficult cleaning the operator applies somewhat more pressure to deflect the flexible bristles and bring the stilfer ones into contact w'th the surface being cleaned.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the invention to provide a new dusting tool which is readily adaptable for either gentle or vigorous cleaning operations.

More specifically it is an object of the invention to provide a dusting tool having both stiff and flexible sets of bristles and in which the stiff set is brought into operation for difficult cleaning tasks by a simple manipulation performed by the operator.

Still another object is the provision of a combination dusting and furniture cleaning tool which is readily convertible between gentle and vigorous cleaning action without the use of moving parts.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment, and in which:

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Figure 1 is an exploded view of the parts shown in perspective;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the tool in position for gentle cleaning operations; and

Figure 3 is a corresponding view showing one of several positions in which the tool may be held for difiicult cleaning operations.

As illustrated in the drawings, the dusting tool embodying this invention preferably comprises but two parts, namely my uniquely designed brush 10 and the combined holder and coupling member 11. Brush member 10 includes two concentrically arranged rows of bristles 12 and 13 which are firmly seated in a back member 14. The back member is preferably made from polyethylene plastic material since this material has been found sufliciently rigid to provide a good anchorage for the bristles and yet is sufficiently soft and flexible to permit a shroud member to be molded integral therewith, as will be explained presently.

The outer contour of back 14 may be elliptical, triangular, circular, or of other suitable shapes, although, a generally rounded triangular configuration has important advantages. The reason for this will become apparent below. A large diameter suction air passageway 15 extends through the back from one side to the other. Surrounding this passageway are a pair of flanges 16 and 17 of different diameters and in planes generally parallel to one another. Those are provided with endless rows of holes for the tufts of bristle sets 12 and 13, respectively.

The outer set of bristles 12 are formed from natural or artificial filaments which are very flexible. These are preferably gathered into tufts 18 which are individually anchored in holes 19 formed in flange 16. The second set of bristles 13 are likewise composed of either natural or artificial filaments having the base ends of their tufts anchored in closely spaced holes along flange 17.

Bristles 13 are stiffer and far less flexible than those in set 12. This characteristic may be obtained in several ways. Thus, the individual filaments may be much different than those in set 12. Moreover, the comparative- 1y short length of the bristles in set 13 in comparison to those in set 12 adds greatly to the stiffness of the shorter set. After bristle tufts have been mounted in back 14, they are trimmed so that the ends of the bristles in set 12 project below the ends of set 13 to the extent clearly indicated in the drawing.

For a brush of maximum of use, it is preferred to trim inclined to the axis of the suction air passageway. This mode of trimming has several important advantages. In the first place, it permits the brush to be held at an angle to the surface being cleaned. Not only does this add to the convenience of use, but it allows the operator to observe the bristles to better advantage. Then too, it is a simple matter for the operator to get into corners and narrow places with the pointed forward nose of bristle sets 12 and 13 while permitting the brush back itself and its coupling member 11 to remain out of contact with the walls.

And of particular importance is the fact that the angular trimming of the bristles provides a tool with two sets of bristles of diflerent characteristics and in which each set of bristles varies in length from relatively short ones to relatively long ones. As a result, the operator can bring bristles of widely varying stiffness into operation by merely depressing one portion of the tool or another. For example, the most gentle brushing and cleaning action is obtained when only the foremost tufts of the longest bristles in set 12 are brought into contact with the surface being cleaned. However, by pressing downwardly slightly on the rear corner of the tool, the shortest effectiveness and convenience the bristles in parallel planes tufts of flexible bristles 12 are brought into. operation and,

due to their shorter length, these are stiffer than those at the nose of the brush. The same is equally true of the inner stiffer set of bristles- 13 thestiffness of'whi'chvaries gradually from the very stiff short tufts at the heel of" the brush to the relatively longer and more flexible tufts at the toe of the brush. a V

'The sole remaining elementmaking upthe brush back comprises a downwardly projecting tubular member 20 which forms a shroud closely spaced from the inner sides of the inner row of bristles 13. The purpose of this shroud is, of course, to confine the air flow to the tips of the bristles as well as to prevent the air stream from deflecting the bristles upwardly intothe passageway.

The brush back assembly 10 is mounted in a cover or a couplingmember 11 which may be formed of elastic vinylite plastic material, soft molded rubber, or the like. This coupling comprises a tubular collar 21 which telescopes over the endof the usual suction cleaner wand or hose 22. The end of this wand may be provided with a split ring keeper 23 which fits into channel 24 for the purpose of holding the dusting tool assembled to the wand. Resiliently and detachably connecting the lower end of collar '21 to the brush body is a flange 25 provided with a peripheral lip 26 which is suitably shaped to receive flange 1 6 of the brush back and lock the two main parts 10 and 11 together in assembled position.

In use the dusting tool is telescoped over the end of a suction cleaning hose or wand 22 coupled to. any type of suction cleaner. The operator may then proceed to clean curtains, draperies and the like light fabrics or to more difficult cleaning operations without changing cleaning tools. For gentle cleaning and dusting needs the ends of the longer bristles 12 are held flat against the surface to be cleaned as the tool is passed lightly thereover. The air enters through. the fabric and between the bristles, passes beneath shroud.- 20 and upwardly through passage I S-carrying the dislodged dirt with it. Should the operator wish to clean upholstery material or remove embedded dirt, she merely applies greater pressure to the cleaning brush and tilts it slightly in one direction or another to deflect longer bristles 12 and to bring bristles 13 of the desired degree of stiffness into contact withthe surface being. cleaned. Bristles 13 will be very effective in dislodging the embedded dirt so that it can be picked up by the air stream. Should the dirt remain after several strokes of the brush, the operator tilts the brush in a direction to bring still shorter tufts of bristles 13 into operation. As soon as the operator wishes to return to gentle cleaning action she can do so merely by reducing the pressure on the brush. and allowing the same to be supported on the ends of flexible bristles l2.

Fromthe foregoing it will be apparent that the present tool provides. a very simple and highly effective structure which. can be instantaneously. converted from dusting work to heavy cleaning by vigorous scrubbing action merely by the simple manipulation of the tool. fact, the operator automatically depresses the tool when encountering a spot diflicult to clean thereby bringing the short stiff bristles into action. When this area is clean, she naturally reduces the pressure on the tool allowing only the longer more flexible bristles toremain in contact: with the-surface being cleaned.

While I have shown and described but one embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this embodiment is to be taken as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. I donot wish to be limited to the par.- ticular structure shown and described but to include all equivalent variations except as limited by the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A hollow suction brush for use with a suction cleaner comprising, a tubular shank for attaching the brush to the endofa suction air conduit, a brush back secured to the inlet end of said shank and having a passage extending As a matter of therethrough. in. communication with said tubular shank, said back having concentrically arranged upper and lower flanges surrounding said passage and in spaced planes traversing said passage to provide anchorages for concentric rows of bristles, an endless row of relatively long and flexible bristles anchored in said upper flange, an endless row of relatively short and stifl? bristles anchored in said lower flange, a flexible tubular shroud member closely spaced inwardly of said row of short bristles, and the freev ends of said rows of bristles terminating in closely spaced parallel planes with the ends of said shorter bristles terminating above the free ends of said longer bristles, whereby the ends of the shorter bristles may be brought into contact with the surface being cleaned by pressing downwardly on said tool and deflecting said longer bristles, and said planes inclined with respect to planes through the anchored ends of said bristles whereby the lengths of both rows of bristles gradually varies from the front tothe back of the brush thereby enabling the user to obtain cleaning action of varying intensity depending on which portions of the rows of bristles are brought into contact with the surface being cleaned.

2. A hollow suction brush as defined in claim 1 wherein said shank is inclined upwardly and rearwardly from the back of the brush whereby said longest bristles can be moved into corners andconfined areas with a minimum of interference from said brush back.

3. A hollow suction brush for use with a suction cleaner comprising, a brush back having a generally equilateral triangular configuration and an opening therethrough, a tubular shank communicating with said opening and projecting upwardly from the upper face of said back and away from the apex portion thereof for attachment to the end of a suction air conduit, the lower face of said: brush back having concentrically arranged inner; and outer steps adjacent its periphery with one of said steps projecting downwardly further than the other step, concentrically arranged rows of bristles having their upper ends secured to said inner and outer steps, the lower ends of the bristles in said rows terminating in different but closely spaced planes which intersect a plane through the top face of said brush back on lines rearward of the base edge of said triangularly-shaped back to provide a dusting brush having an outer row of long bristles for gentle cleaning and an inner row of shorter bristles for more vigorous cleaning and which can be brought into contact with the surface being cleaned by manually applied downward pressure on said brush sufficient to deflect said long bristles.

4. A hollow suction brush for use with a suction cleaner comprising, a brush back of triangular shape having an apex at its front flaring outwardly therefrom and merging with the ends of the rear of said back, a cover for said back having an opening extending therethrough and a shank projecting upwardly therefrom and away from said apex for connection tothe inlet end'of a suction air conduit, concentric rows of bristles secured to the lower face of said back adjacent the periphery thereof, the bristles in the outer of said rows being relatively more flexible than the stiffer juxtaposed bristles in the inner of said rows, the bristles in said outer row terminating in a plane below the ends of the bristles in. said inner row, and the planes; through the terminal surface contacting. ends of said rows merging with a plane through the base ends thereof rearwardly of the rear edge of said brush back to provide a. dusting brush adapted for gentle cleaning when supported on. the ends of said flexible bristlesand which is quickly convertible to more vigorous cleaning by the application of downward pressure to deflect said flexible bristles and bring said inner row of, relatively stiffer bristles into contact with the surface being cleaned.

5. A hollow suction brush readily convertible between gentle and vigorous cleaning operation comprising, a hollow brush back having" a tubular shank pro= i ew,

jecting upwardly at an angle inclined to the upper side thereof, concentric closely spaced rows of bristles having their base ends seated adjacent the lower periphery of said back, said bristles extending downwardly normal to the lower side of said back, the free ends of the bristles in the outer of said rows terminating in a plane spaced a short distance below and parallel to a plane through the free ends of the inner of said rows, both of said planes being inclined to a plane through the base ends of said bristles to provide concentric rows of bristles of diiferent lengths and of gradually varying length in each row, the row of longer bristles being relatively more flexible than the shorter row to provide a dusting brush of variable cleaning action obtained by depressing one edge thereof to deflect the adjacent flexible bristles and bring the ends of relatively shorter bristles of the desired stillness into contact with the surface being cleaned for more vigorous cleaning action.

6. A hollow suction brush as defined in claim 5 wherein said brush back has a pointed forward end, said shank being inclined rearwardly away from said pointed end, and the rows of bristles along said forward end being arranged to present a pointed forward face extending in converging planes downwardly and forwardly of the pointed end of said brush back.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

